FROM STAGE TO CANVAS: IAN MOOD JOINS THE LITTLE MERMAID COMPANY AS ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

29th October 2025

Award-winning local artist Ian Mood has joined The Little Mermaid company as the New Vic’s Artist in Residence for autumn 2025. Documenting the creative process of making a stage production, the artist will capture moments both on and off stage from the beginning of the rehearsal process, through to the first performance of the New Vic’s Christmas show.

Born in Stoke-on-Trent and renowned for his evocative portrayals of landscapes and seascapes, Ian Mood’s work explores the constantly changing and unpredictable natural world and is represented in numerous galleries both in the UK and the USA. His collaboration with the New Vic on The Little Mermaid will mark the third residency Ian has undertaken with a theatre during his artistic career, having previously collaborated with the National Theatre on their production of The Madness of George III and the Royal Exchange Manchester for their production of Mother Courage.

The relationship between the worlds of art and theatre is long established and many famous artists including Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec and Manet have used the stage as inspiration for their paintings. In highlighting the ways in which the two art forms can complement each other through elements of illustration, design and performance, Ian’s work will capture the essence of the New Vic’s Christmas production of The Little Mermaid.

Ian has attended rehearsals since early October to enable him to visually record the development of the production and the energy and innovation of the performers including the aerial artists, puppeteers and musicians as well as the off-stage creative company. Ian has initially used charcoals for sketch work with a view to transferring his illustrations onto larger oil canvases ready to exhibit his work in February 2026.

Describing his ambitions for this residency, Ian said:

“What’s really exciting about this residency is that we’re capturing the tremendous work that’s happening both on and off stage: the production, design, costume and everything in between. In effect, it’s celebrating the whole New Vic team that comes together to make a production like this possible. There’s a long-standing history between artists and theatres and it’s wonderful to be honouring that history and pushing it in a contemporary way through my work here at the New Vic. Capturing the movements, the atmosphere, the full effects of the stage and everybody working together behind the scenes is a real privilege and I cannot wait to share this work and hopefully inspire others when it is exhibited in 2026.”

Ian will be exhibiting his work at the New Vic in February 2026. For more information visit newvictheatre.org.uk.  

Photo Gallery

Ian Mood capturing The Little Mermaid rehearsal NV - credit Andrew Billington

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